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Draginol
Draginol
Join Date 03/2001
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SkinStudio 6 verdicts

Is it getting easier?

September 7, 2007 12:29:59 PM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

I'd love to hear the thoughts of skinners on whether the new SkinStudio beta (version 6) is working out well.

Skinning has to get a LOT easier than it's gotten in the past year or two.  So how are we doing?

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Draginol
Quentin94
Join Date 08/2006
+119
Reply #1 September 7, 2007 12:37:42 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
i like the new for his design and cause it seems more easy for beginners

But beat me, i prefer the old one for options and advanced settings (maybe more a question of time to switch the habits), preview and we need informations on what is what especially for the Vista part of a skin for those who don't have Vista but try to do skins for XP and Vista

But i really enjoy SKS6 and the way SD take here again thanks for all the hard work
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Draginol
NightTrainthedark
Join Date 07/2003
+255
Reply #2 September 7, 2007 12:51:13 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I am easing into it. It's a tough switch because I am very familiar with version 5.
I think that in the next few months I will have made the big switch but SKS 5 works for just fine for me. If and when I get Vista will be the big reason for me to switch. I got suckered on Windows ME, I'm not in any hurry to repeat that wonderful series of events.

The interface is far superior than earlier versions. It will take some time but it will breed a new generation of Skinners. I think that from a beginner's perspective. the new interface is easier to understand and use.
Knowing the limits of XP/Vista and graphics will take new skinnner's time. Unless you guys have added an "increase talent" button of course.

I did have a huge hiccup with SKS 6 that cause me to sort of write it off until full release. I opened a skin I was working on in SKS 6,.... didn't really do too much, closed it. Next time I opened the skin in SKS5 my title bar buttons were gone. Nowhere to be found. Not in the file anymore...gone. I wasn't working on any buttons at the time. Just text colors. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the new buttons I had to make were way better than the originals. LOL I am pretty sure it was SKS6 that deleted the files but user error is ceertainly not out of the question.

I think that SKS6 will be very popular with people that were intimidated by SKS 5 or earlier. I know I will favor it at some point. I haven't seen a tutorial yet but that always helps.   
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Draginol
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
+816
Reply #3 September 7, 2007 12:52:45 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I'm still using 5 even though I have 6 (miss the clickable previews in Sks6). I plan to start my next WB on Sks6.... we'll see how that goes!
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Draginol
Quentin94
Join Date 08/2006
+119
Reply #4 September 8, 2007 8:21:07 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I did have a huge hiccup with SKS 6 that cause me to sort of write it off until full release. I opened a skin I was working on in SKS 6,.... didn't really do too much, closed it. Next time I opened the skin in SKS5 my title bar buttons were gone. Nowhere to be found. Not in the file anymore...gone. I wasn't working on any buttons at the time. Just text colors. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the new buttons I had to make were way better than the originals. LOL I am pretty sure it was SKS6 that deleted the files but user error is ceertainly not out of the question.


i got this too but with Logoff and shutdown dialog and more than once...
I keep thinking SKS6 is a great improvement but as SD begin from trash for this one i think we'll need to wait for it too found his way like every new software with their bugs and all. I waiting i use KeepSafe to keep a clean save/version of my skin (and save it in twice locations one after one)

(miss the clickable previews in Sks6)


yeah me too
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Draginol
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+493
Reply #5 September 9, 2007 4:09:21 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

SK6... sigh. I keep working on a skin then giving up. Sticking everything in windows and tabs just makes the whole thing impossible to navigate.

In SK5 I always work from the tree view. I can open this up and select every item in turn. Not only is it easier that way to skin, but it also means I don't miss any settings.

SK6 may help beginners, but advanced skinners need more advanced options. Turn tree view back on and I'll be happy. As it is now I may well give up, or do all my skinning in SK5...   

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Draginol
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
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Reply #6 September 9, 2007 4:46:02 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I second that Fuzzy! The tree view is a Must! I feel totally lost without it Gonna stick with 5 for the time being
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Draginol
Daiwa
Join Date 07/2001
+351
Reply #7 January 6, 2008 5:44:14 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Does the current SKS6 (5.96) still "auto-save" with every change? Is tree-view back as navigation option?

Both of these were mentioned early on as SKS6 negatives, but nothing about either issue has appeared in the release notes since.
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Draginol
BoXXi
Join Date 03/2001
+393
Reply #8 January 6, 2008 5:58:30 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Everything Fuzzy said....... I just can't get on with it at all. I'm using 5. I have tried to use 6 a couple of times, but it's just too alien, I can't find anything.
It's such a shame that the Xion skinning method can't be applied to WB. I understand why, and those reasons mean it will NEVER happen, but it's still a shame.....
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Draginol
Koasati
Join Date 07/2001
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Reply #9 January 6, 2008 6:07:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
[quote]
Does the current SKS6 (5.96) still "auto-save" with every change? Is tree-view back as navigation option?

Both of these were mentioned early on as SKS6 negatives, but nothing about either issue has appeared in the release notes since.
[/quote

Not sure.


Is tree-view back as navigation option?



In Preferences > Advanced > "Show tree in edit window"

....now, if edit windows could be resized...... (and my cursor would stop flying off the right side of the monitor every time an edit window opens)


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Draginol
eieio
Join Date 03/2003
+52
Reply #10 January 6, 2008 6:46:02 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
In Preferences > Advanced > "Show tree in edit window"


What the heck is '23'?   


I've adapted to SKS6 for the most part, but still find that I need SKS5 to do certain things. Maybe I'm just not finding them in SKS6, I don't know.   

Hide Start Panel shadows, for instance. Where is that in SKS6?
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Draginol
ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
+917
Reply #11 January 6, 2008 6:51:40 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
What the heck is '23'?
Shhh . . that's secret beta talk.
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Draginol
eieio
Join Date 03/2003
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Reply #12 January 6, 2008 6:57:01 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Shhh . . that's secret beta talk.


  
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Draginol
Koasati
Join Date 07/2001
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Reply #13 January 6, 2008 7:11:54 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
What the heck is '23'?


What am I missing? Where does 23 come into the mix?

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Draginol
eieio
Join Date 03/2003
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Reply #14 January 6, 2008 7:17:16 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
What am I missing? Where does 23 come into the mix?


Shh! ixnay on the twothree   


It shows when I enable tree view in SKS6 right under 'Explorer and IE'. It contains 'Drag and Drop' and 'Aero Wizard Arrows'.
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Draginol
PoSmedley
Join Date 04/2005
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Reply #15 January 6, 2008 7:17:58 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I WAS loving it. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere and then find out it had an expiration date because it was a beta. I have to admit, it kind of pissed me off a bit, especially the excuse that 'beta's have expiration dates'. I notice RightClick and the controlcenter never seem to expire.

My entire OD subscription expired soon after or before. When I saw the post saying that skinstudio was gonna cost extra should I subscribe again, I was further disappointed.

I have to laugh, though. My PC is 4 years old. A very modest little HP that I tweaked a very little bit. My 12 yo step-son got a new PC for Christmas this year. The freakin' thing is loaded to the gills and runs Vista Home Premium. He's happy and that's what matters. Maybe next Christmas I'll be able to get SKinstudio6 and finish some of what I started.
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Draginol
killajosh
Join Date 10/2007
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Reply #16 January 6, 2008 7:24:22 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Po', I hope this doesn't interfere with the Troll Thumping Day suite.....
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Draginol
ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
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Reply #17 January 6, 2008 7:24:37 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
23 is one of the sections in SKS6.  It hasn't a formal name yet.

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Draginol
Koasati
Join Date 07/2001
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Reply #18 January 6, 2008 7:28:26 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
ooooh.... that 23.
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Draginol
PoSmedley
Join Date 04/2005
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Reply #19 January 6, 2008 8:00:17 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Po', I hope this doesn't interfere with the Troll Thumping Day suite.....


It's slowing me down. I don't think it will be a problem. It was easier for me to find each 'piece' to see what I needed to make and a little better in explaining. Avman is doing all the real work. He's trying to make what I create work as he puts it all together.
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Draginol
Daiwa
Join Date 07/2001
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Reply #20 January 6, 2008 8:24:01 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
I understood there was also an issue flipping back & forth between SKS6 & SKS5 when editing a skin, at least as far as Vista elements were concerned - still the case?

And I had been wondering where 23 went.  
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Draginol
Phoon
Join Date 10/2001
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Reply #21 January 6, 2008 8:34:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
When I saw the post saying that skinstudio was gonna cost extra


Scuse me... have I missed something? Am I to understand by this that SS will be an additional cost on top of Object Desktop?
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Draginol
Daiwa
Join Date 07/2001
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Reply #22 January 6, 2008 8:58:05 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I understand there will continue to be free & "pro" versions - seems like Brad posted about the changes to OD that are planned for 2008 - run through his posts (draginol or Frogboy) within the past month. I don't recall the precise details, but there are to be two flavors of Object Desktop, the more expensive of which includes SKS6 Pro. I think the difference in renewal cost was about $5 IIRC.
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Draginol
PoSmedley
Join Date 04/2005
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Reply #23 January 6, 2008 9:36:09 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Two versions

In 2008 there will be two editions of Object Desktop:

Object Desktop normal which will remain $49.95 and it will include:

* Object Desktop LaunchPad
* WindowBlinds
* IconPackager
* DeskScapes
* DesktopX
* SoundPackager
* Theme Manager
* MyColors with 3 premium themes included

And there will then be:

Object Desktop Ultimate Edition which will be $69.95 and add:

* TweakVista
* WindowFX
* SkinStudio
* IconDeveloper
* StyleVista (new program in development)
* LogonStudio Vista
* ObjectBar
* RightClick
* Keyboard LaunchPad

ALL current users of Object Desktop at the time that 2008 edition is launched will be upgraded to Ultimate Edition.


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Draginol
ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
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Reply #24 January 6, 2008 9:42:53 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Good time to subscribe/renew now so that you upgrade to Pro at no cost.
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Draginol
Alternate Setting
Join Date 03/2004
+24
Reply #25 January 7, 2008 12:04:08 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I also found the 'tree' in version 5 a nice way to go to elements, it seemed easier to navigate.

Waves @ Po - hehe, get off my thin ice, it'll never support the both of us. Seriously, I've been at this argument to explore what the positioning of SkinStudio6 would mean to potential new skinners.

The way Frogboy expresses his opinion of the use of SkinStudio, leads a body to believe the issue is not that of cost, but of presentation.

The version to be found in 'OD2008 Ultimate' is, as I understand it, the Pro version. Frogboy asserts that this is aimed solely at 'Professional' skinners. The 'Free' version is said to be up to speed for most skinners. This assertion is illustrated/given weight by Frogboy through this statement in a previous thread:-

"All of the WindowBlinds 6 skins thus far have been made with the feature set of the free version.".

The sooner the relative differences between versions can be understood and illustrated to everybody, the sooner the issue of cost/product placement can be put into it's proper perspective. Exploring how the different versions really impact on skinners is going to be a whole different thread though and not one that's gonna fly until both versions go gold.

For the present, in theory at least, unless you're doing this for a living - the issue of cost doesn't exist and you should be able to enjoy testing SkinStudio6 regardless of whether or not you're an OD subscriber.
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